TLDR
- Fenabanca submitted new proposals to help regularize lottery betting shops in the Dominican Republic.
- The recommendations respond to Executive Decree 197-26, which renewed the National Regularization Plan.
- Proposed rules include a 200-meter minimum distance between betting shops joining the plan.
- Shops not joining the plan would need to keep a 400-meter distance from other shops.
- The plan also reorganizes oversight, giving the DGII responsibility for tax compliance and registration.
The National Federation of Lottery Betting Shops of the Dominican Republic, known as Fenabanca, has submitted a new set of proposals to the government. The goal is to help fix the process of legalizing lottery betting shops, sports betting companies, and gaming establishments across the country.
The proposals were sent as part of the National Regularization Plan. This plan was renewed through Executive Decree 197-26, which restarts a licensing process that stalled after deadlines expired back in 2022.
Changes to Government Oversight
Under the new decree, the government is changing how it manages gambling businesses. The General Directorate of Internal Taxes, or DGII, will now handle tax compliance checks. It will also help operators complete provisional tax registration.
The decree also reshapes the Advisory Council that oversees the regularization plan. This council will now include officials from the Ministries of Finance and Economy, the DGII, the National Lottery, Indotel, and Ogtic.
Representatives from Fenabanca, the Sports Betting Shops Association, the National Horse Racing Commission, and the Casino Association will also sit on the council.
What Fenabanca Is Recommending
Fenabanca’s proposals aim to make it easier for operators to legally register their businesses. At the same time, the group wants to reduce the number of shops still operating illegally.
One key recommendation sets a minimum distance of 200 meters between betting shops that join the Regularization Plan. This applies to shops located near each other.
Shops that choose not to join the plan would face stricter spacing rules. Fenabanca recommends a 400-meter distance requirement for these shops, which is meant to discourage unregistered operations.
The group also wants earlier applications processed under a transitional system. This would preserve the procedures and rights of people who already applied for licenses.
Other recommendations include exempting plan participants from certain fees. Fenabanca also wants rules in place to prevent monopolies and support fair competition among operators.
Fenabanca is asking to be included on the board of the future General Directorate of Games of Chance. This would give the group a direct role in shaping gambling industry rules going forward.
According to Fenabanca, all of these proposals share one main purpose. The group wants to build a stronger legal foundation for operators while protecting people already working in the sector.
In a public statement, Fenabanca explained its reasoning. The group said the proposals aim to strengthen legal certainty, support free enterprise, and preserve the rights of workers already in the industry.
The regularization process now moves forward under the renewed decree. Government officials and industry groups will continue working through the Advisory Council to apply these changes.
